Coffee, gift

shop must move

by month’s end

Aug. 31. That’s the date Jet City Espresso has to be packed and gone from the former gas station on Main Avenue South. There’s a lot of packing to do at the store, which is overflowing with antiques, collectibles and kitsch.

An auction tonight (Saturday) will help lighten the load and also give customers a chance to own part of Renton’s first, and certainly most unique, espresso cart-turned coffee and gift shop. That cart was built into the Jet City counter in 1991. But it started out in front of the former Renton City Hall and later the old McLendon Hardware site (now Evergreen City Ballet).

Items up for bids tonight include a turquoise and pink piano, beauty parlor chairs, a tribal drum, a Frederick & Nelson glass display case, a pair of old roller skates, and the last remaining Jet City shirt, a long-sleeved black version. Also for sale is an assortment of furniture, books, masks, hats, coffee cups and pots, games and puzzles, soda-fountain equipment, old radios and musical instruments.

That’s a lot of items. But Jet City has plenty of items in reserve.

Owner Debbie Natelson calls tonight’s auction a “first pass.”

The self-described “queen of stuff” has collected a lot of stuff during Jet City’s 18 years. So much stuff that she may have to throw another auction to be rid of it all.

But not everything’s going. Some of the store’s items are treasures belonging to Natelson and her baristas.

Other items, like the espresso machine, espresso cart and roaster, Natelson hopes to sell along with the Jet City name and business. She doesn’t have the finances to continue operating Jet City, but hopes someone will purchase the business and move it elsewhere.

A six-story apartment and retail building will rise in Jet City’s place.

Emily Garland can be reached at emily.garland@reporternewspapers.com or (425) 255-3484, ext. 5052.

Jet City

Auction

Jet City Espresso’s auction starts at 5 p.m. tonight (Saturday) at the shop, at 207 Main Ave. S. Arrive early to register. Proxy bids may be made on items before the auction.